Electropneumatic triple-valve mechanism for coupling systems.



C. H. TOIVILINSON.

ELECTROPNEUMATIC TRIPLE' VALVE MECHANISM FOR COUPLING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. i914.'

LQQSJH 9., Y PatentedJune 5,1917.

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`GHABJLES H. TOMLINSON, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TH TOMLINSON COUPLEB -COMPANTQ F DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION 0F SOUTH DAKOTA.

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ELECTROPNEUMATIC TRIPLE-VALVE MECHANISM FOR COUPLING- SYSTEMS.

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/ Application filed March 30, 1914. Serial No. 828,157.

p To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known ,that I, CHARLES H. TOMLIN- soN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrop'neumatic Triple-Valve Mechanisms for Cou,- pling Systems, of which the following is a specification.-

The Y' invention relates to valve mechanisms, and the primary object of the inent Serial No. 822,802,1iled on the 6th day of March, 191,4,A on an automatic car, air and coupling mechanism, I show a valve constructed in accordance with the principles of. thepresent invention and illusL trate the manner in which it Iis used in my improved system, in which mechanism for automatically coupling two cars, and at the same time coupling the air and electrical devices between the cars, is provided.

The present invention is directed to the construction of the valve itself andy its operating means, specifically shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view and` Fig. 2 a view in side elevation of the same, looking atFig. 1 from the right or from in front of the electrical magnet casing. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the casing containing the valveoperating piston and through the electrical magnet casing, with parts inv sectiony and parts broken away, while Fig. is a sectional view through the valve casing proper and extending through the casing containing piston for operating the valve,`

this section bein taken on a plane approximately Aat rlght angles to the view in Fig. 3, with partsof the interior of the casings in section and other parts broken away or shown in elevation to disclose the details -of construction. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of an electrical switch connection connected with the valve operating piston. p

The valve proper is of triple type, in that itis designed to act simultaneously to open or close three different Iiuid pressure connections. The construction of .the valve casing proper is best shown in Flgs. l and 2, from which it will be seen that two conical casings are provided, asv indicated by the reference characters 10 and 11. A central housing is provided, which is indicated by the referencecharacter'12. This member 12 is of an Iirregular hollow form andv is provided with opposed openings designed to take the reduced ends ofthe conical casings A10 and 11 on diametrically opposite i. sides thereof. This vhousing 12 preferably has adepending extension, indicated at 12a, which is adapted to permit the passage therethrough of a plunger carrying pistons at either end thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4,' the plunger being itself designated by the reference character 13 and the pistons as 13a and 13b.

To return to the details of the triple valve mechanism proper, it will be seen that the conical shaped casings 10 and 11 arejoined `to the housing 12, to form a closure therewith by the machine screws 14' passing' through lugs 10iL andA 1la and being threaded into the lugs 12b on the housing 12. This connection is further secured -by vmachine screws 15 passing through the lugs 10b and 11b and being-'threaded into the dependent portion 12aof the housing. This construction permitsthe housing 12 and the valve 4 casings 10, 11 to be formed separately and detachably united Ain the mannerdescribed,

which is a great convenience in the manufacture and assembling. The conical housings 10 and 11 are preferably closed at their opposed* outward ends by the hollow screw plugs 15. threaded into their interiors, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The closure' members 15 each contain housings for supporting the ends of coil springs 16, which are designed to` exert compression between the members 15 and the outer extremities of conical fshaped valve members 17 and 18, designed pansive force of the compression springs 16 v to force the conical shaped valves 17 and 18 to their seats Within t'leir respective casings 1() and 11 and insure a close Working fit at all times, thus automatically taking up any Wear or looseness that may result by reason of Wear in the operation of these parts. The valve members 17 and 18 are at their reduced and inner ends provided with registering angular openings, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4, being adapted to take the ends of the angular plug 19 connected With lever 20, the upper extremity of Which is positioned on the outside of the casing 12, as indicated at 20a, and being formed into a suitable hand lever by Which it may be moved on its pivotal connection in the valve casing bythe hand of the operator. The lever 20 is extended below its pivotal connection at 19 With the valve members and in this lower extension is provided With a longitudinal slot 20", adapted to coperate With the pin 13e, which is secured in a slotted portion 13e of the plunger 13. The conical' valve 18, it will be seen by referring to Fig.l 4, is provided With tWo interior openings in the form of frusta of cones, and theseJ openings may be extended' on opposite sides through the Walls of the valves 18, as indicated, for example, at 18". This opening through the valve 18 may be positioned by rotation of the valve so the valve Will cut 'olf the passage laterally of the casing 11 Which terminates in the interiorly threaded pipe nipples 11d on opposite sides of the casing 11, as shown in Figs. l and 5. The same construction 'is provided in the valve member 17, this opening being indicated by the reference character 17 b, and the interiorly threaded pipe nipples in the casing by the reference character. 10d. The valve member 18, in addition to the valve opening 18h, is provided With aA second opening near its outer enlarged extremity'vvhich is designated by the reference character 18d, de-

- signed to coperate with registering openings on opposite sides of the valve casing 11, is indicated by the reference character 11",

ig. 1. l

Now, it Will be seen that the valve menibers 17 and 18 being connected together,'

will rotate in unison and are' set as ill'ustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, so that they- Will lsynchronously open or close the registering openings 10d and 11d in theV valve casings 10 and 11, and at the same time that the valve member 18 operates to openand close the openings 11d through the casing its movement Will operate tocause the valve openings 18d therein to be operated in relation to the opposed openings 11e of the valve casing 11.

The operation of the device thus partially described may be understood if We assume, as is shown in the application of the valve in my aforesaid application on 'A automatic car, air and electric coupling mechanism, that fluid pressure lines are connected with the nipples 10d and 11d and designed to be opened and closed by the synchronous operation of the valves, and

that an auxiliary liuid pressure line passes the valve casing, whereby the valve members 17 and 18 Will be synchronously rotated each a partial revolution, and the main'valve openings will be synchronously opened and closed, While the auxiliary line passing through the valve opening 18d and connected With the nipples 11e of the casing 11 being set at approximately right angles to the openings 17b and 18b Will be closed when the main\ valve openings are open and vice versa..

To provide another, and if desirable automatic, means for operating the valve mechanism, the plunger 13 andthe pistons 13a and 13b thereon, are provided, these cooperating With suitable casings 30 and 31, respectively, the former of which is designed to serve as a cylinder' for the piston 13b and the latter as a cylinder for the piston 13a. The casing 30 is preferably in detachable form in relation to ythe central,

A cated at 33, Fig. 1, pass through ears cast integrally With the housing 31 for securing the same to the central housing 12.

Preferably, although. not necessarily, I cast integrally With the housing 31, as illustrated, an angular extending, depending housing, indicated by the reference character 31a, Which is designed to serve as a covering and'support for an electric engine, Which is shown in detail in the sectional view Fig.' 3. The covering portion 3la is extended upwardly in a portion of reduced diameter, as indicated at 31", across the end of the opening or chamber in the cylinder 31, and is provided with an interior opening disconnected from the interior of the cylinder 31, except for a small port as indicated at 31. The upper extremity of the hollow portion 31b is preferably closed with a screw cap 32, having threaded connection with the casing and being designed to support a compression spring 33n against', the upper end of the valve 34, which is designed to close an opening in plug 35. This plug 35 is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3, so that it serves to block or close the opening on the interior of the passage of the casing 31", except for a small opening extending vertically from top to bottom thereof, and indicated by the reference character 36. For convenience in manufacture an opening extending at right angles yto the opening 36 in the plug 35 is provided,

the same leading from the vertical opening 36 to the opening 31 in the end wall of the cylinder 31. The valve 34, while designed to close, under the' action of the vcoil spring 33, the upper extremity of they opening 36 in plug 35, is itself controlled by a pin 37 extending vertically through the opening 36 and designed to bear normally. against the lower extremity of the valve 34 and against the upper extremity of a second'valve 38. The valve 38 is designed to coperate with a suitable seat at the lower extremity of the vertical opening 36 and is carried upon the upper extremity of a core bar 39. The corebar 39 is in the form 'of a brass rod having at its lower extremity an operating member 40 slidably mounted in a housing 41 formed in a closure member secured to the underside of housing 311. The closure member 41 is preferably provided with a cylindrical nipple exteriorly threaded and designed to take a corresponding interiorly threaded cap 42, which is perforated, and when in position on the lower extremity of the housing of the electric engine it serves to retain the c up shaped Iember 4Q and the core bar 39 in position, and at the same timepermits an outwardly extending stem 43 connected therewith -to protrude below Athe closure Y member 42, Y'so that if for any reason the valve operating rod 39 should fail to be operated electrically it may be operated by pressing upwardly onI the lower extremity of this extension 43. Forty-four is a housing or sleeve threaded in the upper extremity of'the casing 31a-and surrounding the plunger 39. At its lower extremity it is preferably threaded for taking a flange Washer'45, which latter acts as a support for the usual insulating materials 46, which are designed to support and insulate the coil of the electric magnet indicated by the referencecharacter 48, the same being shown in' section in Fig. 3. lThe coil of this magnet kis supplied with current through the terminal wires 49 and 50 connected to the bindthe coil 48, the opposite terminal ofwhich is similarly connected with the binding post 52 and the circuit Wire 50., Itwilll be obvious that the current passing from a source of electrlcal supply, maybe used to energlze lhousing 31a and electrically connected with,

the coil 48, and by operating the armature 40 in a` well-known manner, causing it to approachl the lower extremity of the coil and the housing. 44 on the interior thereof,

will lift the valve rod 39` and the valve 38 thereon, closing the lower extremity of the valve, opening 36.

This movement of' the,A

valve 38 will at the same time raise the con-J necting pin 37, which will lift the valve 34 against the action of spring33a and admit` Huid pressure kthroughthe opening 31d by saV way of the passage 36 through the port 31c behind the piston 13, thus operating the piston 13a, the plunger 13 .connected therewith and the valve operating lever 20, which will result in rotating synchronously both the valves 17 and 18 to either their open or closed position, as may be. desired by theldesigner 0f the valve mechanism.

It will be apparent, however, that vmy improved valve operating mechanism is designed only to operate the valve to one position by admitting fluid pressureV upon the piston 13a. This provision, I nd 1n practice` is all that is required, for it,w1ll be seen by reference to the specific installation of my improved valve mechanism, as

'shown in my said application on autothe plunger 13 and the piston 13b thereon and the valve mechanism controlled 'thereby to the'open position or the position shown, for example in Fig. 3, fluid pressure 1s admitted in any desired manner from some part of the system through the opening 30a.

One manner of connecting up the device with the iuidpressure is illustrated in my prior application already referred to. In the casing 3lb is shown a vent 31, whlch,

it will be seen, permitsthe, operation of' the piston 13a when ,fluid pressure is a d mitted into the cylinder 30 behind the plstony 13", for the Huid within'the cylinder T130 linders 30 and 31 of different sizes, .the cylinder 31 being of larger interior diameter and, consequently, taking aI piston' of largeur,

diameter, asY indicated at 13, Fig. 3,.-than the cylinder 30A and its correspondingpiston 13". Although means for 'operating the pistons 13a and 13b by hand isjprovided, the preferred manner of operating ,my valve mechanism is by fluid pressure from a combined reservoir line and V"brake line system, as shown and described in my application on automatic car, air, and electric coupler system already referred to. In order to operate the pistons 13a and 13b from fluid pressure ina system of this character and since the pressure Will be upon the cylinder 30 constantly, as no provision is made for venting that cylinder or the pipe line leading to it, it is desirable that the area of the piston 13a, which is the olf cylinder, shall be larger in cross sectionalarea than the area of the piston 13".

This will enable pressure admitted through valve 34 and port 31c from a source of pressure to operate the piston 13a and carry with it the connected piston 13b against pressure from the same source within the cylinder 30. Therefore,- when the operating valve 13 has beenmoved to the on position carrying the m`ain valve to the on or open positlon, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3, the pressure, applied to the piston 13a will be effective to shift the valve to the closed position against a like pressure within the smaller cylinder 30, provided, of course, that the difference in size between the cylinders 31 and 30 and their corresponding pistons is made suiicient for the purpose, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

On the plunger 13 is secured an insulated member 60,-adapted to coperate with spring arm 51a to cause it to contact with the spring arm 52a when the/plunger 13 is in a position for example shown in Fig. 3, which is the open position of the valves, and Will close an electrical circuit through the spring contacts 51a and 52a and suitable` binding posts, as indicatedrat 53 and 54, leadingto the circuit wires 55 and 56, which may be utilized as portions of the electric circuit for signal lights to indicate when the valve is in its` open or closed position.

In the valve member 18 an auxiliary opening 18c is provided, as shown in Fig. 5, which will, upon the operation of the valve member 18, be caused to register with a vent 11g leadlng to the atmosphere.' This feature of construction will permit a'venting of portions vof ythe iiuid pressure pipe system when the valve is closed, if desired.

In order that the invention may be understood, the preferred embodiment has been vshown and described, butit is not desired to be limited to the details, for it will be ap' parent that a person skilled in the art may 70 make many modifications Awithout departing from the purpose and spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. Valve mechanism for car coupler sys 75 tems and the like comprising a plurality of operativel connected valve members, a4 housing or said members, two cylinders opening on the interior of said housing and providlng opposed openings for receiving each a piston on a common plunger, means for operating said valve members from said plunger, connections forv admitting Huid pressure for operating each of the pistons on said plunger, and means for controllingthe 85 Huid-pressure connections to one of thev pistons on said` plunger comprising a valve, elastic means for seating said valve, andan electrically voperated device for unseating said valve to admit fluid pressure into the 9o cylinder of said piston. y

2. Valve mechanism formar coupler systems and the like, comprising a valve housing or casing consisting of a central compartment with two diametrically. opposed members.

3. Valve mechanism for car coupler systems and the like, comprising a valve hous- 110 ing or casing consisting of a central compartment with two diametrically opposed housings or casings in the form of frusta of cones secured to the' said central housing with their ends of smallest'diameter engag- 115 ing the central housing, valve members of the general form of frusta of cones within the casings or housings, means for closing the outer extremities of said casings or housings, elastic means interposed between said last-mentioned means and the said valve members for holding them in their normal seated position, common means in the centralhousing for operating the' saidA valve members, comprising ,a lever engaging both said valve members, `and a pneumatlcallyoperated reciprocating plunger operatively connected-with said lever.

4. In a valve mechanism for car coupler' systems, and the like, the combination with a central casing, of two cylinders ofunequal diameters located on the same axial line with each other on diametrically opposite sides of said central casing, conical valve chamr .bers in communication with .said 'central casing and extending on diametrically opposite sides thereof at approximately right angles to said cylinders, respective valve members in said valve chambers being adapted to control the passage of iiuids through said chambers," respective pistons in sald cylinders of unequal diameters and cooperating therewith, a rigid connection between said pistons, and an operative connection between said piston connection and said valve members for operating the latter.

5. In a valve mechanism for car coupler systems, and the like, the combination with a central casing, of two cylinders of unequal diameters located on the same axial line with each other on diametrically opposite sides of said central casing, valve chambers in the form of frustaof cones in communication w1th sald central casing and extending on ldiametrically opposite sides thereof at approximately right angles to said cylinders, respective perforated valve members in said valve chambers being adapted to control passage of Huid through said chambers, respective pistons in said cylinders of unequal dif ameters and coperating therewith, a rigid piston rod connecting said pistons and an operative connection between said piston rod and said yvalve members for operating the latter. 1 p

6. In a'valve mechanism for car coupler systems and the like, the combination with a central casing, of two cylinders of unequal diameters located on the same axial line with eachother on diametrically opposite sides of said central casing, valve chambers in the form of frusta of c'ones in communication lwith. said central casing and extending on diametrically opposite sides thereof at approximately 'right angles to said cylinders, respective perforated valve members in said valve chambers being adapted to control the passage of Huid through said chambers, respective pistons in said cylindersof -unequal dlameters coperating with said cylinders, a rigid piston rod connecting said pistons, operative connections between said piston rod and said valve members for operating the latter when said piston rod is operated means for admitting iiuid pressure into sai cylindersbehind said pistons to operate the latter, and means for operating said valves by hand, at the will of the operator.

7. In a valve mechanism for ,car coupler systems, and the like, the combination with a central casing, of two cylinders ofunequal diameters located on the same amfal line with each lother'on diametrically opposite sides of said central casing, valve chambers .in the term of'usta et cones in communication with said central casing and extending on diametrically opposite sides thereof at approximately right angles to said cylinders, respective perforated valve members in said chambers, respective pistons in said cylinders of unequal diameters andcoperating therewith, a rigid piston rod connecting said pistons, operative connections betweensaid piston rod and said valve members for operating the latter when said piston rod is operated, means for admitting fluid pressure into said cylinders behind sald pistons to operate the latter, and means for operating said piston rod and said valves at the will of the operator.

8. In a valve mechanism for car coupler systems, and the like', the combination with and extending on diametrically opposite sides thereof at approximately right angles to said cylinders, respective perforated valve members in said chambers being adapted to control the passage of fluids through said chambers, respective pistons in said cylinders of unequal diameters and coperating with said cylinders, a rigid connection between said pistons, an operative connection between said piston connection and said valve members for operating the latter, a valve controlled connection for admitting iiuid pressure to the cylinder of larger diameter, and anl electrically operated device for moving the valve of said valve controlled connection.

llii, a valve mechanism for car coupler systems,'=it hel combination with a central casing, of two cylinders of unequal diameters located on the same axial line with each other, on diametrically opposite sides of said central casing, conical valve chambers in communication with sa1d central casmg and extending on diametrically opposite thereof at approximately right angles-tto said cylinders, respective perforated valve members in said valve chambers being adapted to control the passage of iiuids through said chambers, respective pistons in sald cylinders being rigidly connected to operate synchronously, connections between said valves and said pistons for operating them upon the operation of the pistons, a metallic housing adjacent the larger one of sald cylinders, there being a fluid inlet port communicating between the interior of sald housingvand-the interior of said cyllnder, and a port leading to the atmosphere through the wall of said housing and communicating -with said inlet port, means for supplying fluid ressure to the interior .of the housing, an a valve controlled devlce for admitting duid pressure through the in- 139 let port into the L'cylinder and closing the passage to the atmosphere and for closing the passage to the inlet port and opening the passage therefrom to the port to the atmos-` 5 phere at the will of the operator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 24th" l day of March, A. D. 1914;,

v CHARLESH. 'rOMLIrIsoN- Witnesses: i i

A. LYMAN PRICE,

'Gr.- L. BUGHAN. 

